Lululemon’s sales unexpectedly up thanks to lots of downward dogs

Vancouver yogawear giant Lululemon Athletica Inc. (Nasdaq:LULU) shares soared after hours on August 30, after the company announced that it had unexpectedly high sales and profits in the quarter that ended on July 29.

The company generated US$95.77 million in net income, or profit, on US$723.5 million in revenue, or sales, in the quarter.

Lululemon on Burrard in Vancouver (Photo: Glen Korstrom)

That represented a 96.6% hike in profit and a 24.5% hike in revenue compared with the same quarter a year ago.

He explained that his initial work as CEO will be to get to know the organization well.

“I feel it is important to meet as many people in the organization as possible,” McDonald said on the August 30 conference call.

“In my initial weeks and months, I will spend time in every part of the organization – in stores, our store support centres, our distribution centres and our guest education centres. My approach is to listen and to learn as much as possible about the organization and our guests from the teams across the company, and become grounded in all things Lululemon.”

Lululemon COO Stuart Haselden, who handled much of the conference call, said Lululemon’s strategic priorities going forward are to expand digital channels, ramp up “international expansion with a near-term focus on Asia,” and to merchandise better for men in attempt to increase that rapidly growing sales channel.

Image from Google Finance shows that Lululemon shares fell 1.23% during the regular session on August 30 but spiked after hours, following the company releasing its earnings report

He also said the company plans to roll out more stores in North America.

“Given our momentum, and the recognition of what is currently working to drive our business, we are taking up our guidance for the year,” Haselden said.

Lululemon now plans to generate between US$3.185 billion and US$3.235 billion in sales in the 53-week fiscal year for 2018-19.